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Biocultural Restoration of Traditional Agriculture: Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Outcomes of Lo‘i Kalo Restoration in He‘eia, O‘ahu

Author

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  • Leah L. Bremer

    (University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
    Water Resource Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Kim Falinski

    (Water Resource Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
    The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i Marine Program, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA)

  • Casey Ching

    (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Christopher A. Wada

    (University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Kimberly M. Burnett

    (University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz

    (The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i Marine Program, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA
    Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi, Kāne‘ohe, HI 96744, USA)

  • Nicholas Reppun

    (Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi, Kāne‘ohe, HI 96744, USA)

  • Gregory Chun

    (Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
    Hawai‘inuiākea, School for Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Kirsten L.L. Oleson

    (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Tamara Ticktin

    (Botany Department, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

Abstract

There are growing efforts around the world to restore biocultural systems that produce food while also providing additional cultural and ecological benefits. Yet, there are few examples of integrated assessments of these efforts, impeding understanding of how they can contribute to multi-level sustainability goals. In this study, we collaborated with a community-based non-profit in He‘eia, O‘ahu to evaluate future scenarios of traditional wetland and flooded field system agriculture (lo‘i kalo; taro fields) restoration in terms of locally-relevant cultural, ecological, and economic outcomes as well as broader State of Hawai‘i sustainability goals around food, energy, and water. Families participating in the biocultural restoration program described a suite of community and cultural benefits stemming from the process of restoration, including enhanced social connections, cultural (re)connections to place, and physical and mental well-being, which inspired their sustained participation. We also found benefits in terms of local food production that have the potential to provide economic returns and energy savings over time, particularly when carried out through a hybrid non-profit and family management model. These benefits were coupled with potential changes in sediment and nutrient retention with implications for water quality and the health of an important downstream fish pond (loko i‘a) and coral reef social-ecological system. Compared with the current land cover (primarily invasive grasses), results suggest that full restoration of lo‘i kalo would decrease sediment export by ~38%, but triple nitrogen export due to organic fertilizer additions. However, compared with an urban scenario, there were clear benefits of agricultural restoration in terms of reduced nitrogen and sediment runoff. In combination, our results demonstrate that a biocultural approach can support the social and financial sustainability of agricultural systems that provide multiple benefits valued by the local community and non-profit while also contributing to statewide sustainability goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Leah L. Bremer & Kim Falinski & Casey Ching & Christopher A. Wada & Kimberly M. Burnett & Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz & Nicholas Reppun & Gregory Chun & Kirsten L.L. Oleson & Tamara Ticktin, 2018. "Biocultural Restoration of Traditional Agriculture: Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Outcomes of Lo‘i Kalo Restoration in He‘eia, O‘ahu," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4502-:d:186523
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Angelica Melone & Leah L. Bremer & Susan E. Crow & Zoe Hastings & Kawika B. Winter & Tamara Ticktin & Yoshimi M. Rii & Maile Wong & Kānekoa Kukea-Shultz & Sheree J. Watson & Clay Trauernicht, 2021. "Assessing Baseline Carbon Stocks for Forest Transitions: A Case Study of Agroforestry Restoration from Hawaiʻi," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil Abhilash, 2021. "Restoring the Unrestored: Strategies for Restoring Global Land during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UN-DER)," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Kevin Chang & Kawika B. Winter & Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, 2019. "Hawai‘i in Focus: Navigating Pathways in Global Biocultural Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, January.
    4. Ahmad Hamidov & Katharina Helming, 2020. "Sustainability Considerations in Water–Energy–Food Nexus Research in Irrigated Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Carter A. Hunt & Melanie E. Jones & Ernesto Bustamante & Carla Zambrano & Carolina Carrión-Klier & Heinke Jäger, 2023. "Setting Up Roots: Opportunities for Biocultural Restoration in Recently Inhabited Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, February.

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